The Seattle Times looked into why Lynch skipped the ceremony, asking his mother why the star running back didn’t make the trip:

“He just said he didn’t want to go,” she told the Seattle Times tonight.

Delisa Lynch said Marshawn Lynch has been mourning the recent death of a family member. But she said they’d had had some recent talks and she thought her son was going to attend the ceremony anyway.

“No particular reason was given to me,’’ she said. “He just said he didn’t want to go.’’

For all the reasons one might skip out attending the White House, which range from from vague political statements to contract disputes with the team, “not wanting to go” is actually one of the better ones.

The news should come as no surprise to sports fans who have chronicled Lynch’s career. After all this is the same guy who faced a hefty fine for failing to uphold the clause in his contract which forces him to cooperate with the media.

Despite his absence, Lynch’s teammates seemed to be enjoying themselves. Star quarterback Russell Wilson, highest-paid cornerback Richard Sherman and Super Bowl MVP XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith were among the Hawks who were gracious enough to be invited into the Oval Office. Maybe Lynch will have a change-of-heart if they repeat?

Hit the gallery to see flicks of the world champions getting their just due in Washington, D.C.